DE2642425A1 - PET ABORT - Google Patents

Description

UGSN 615,493

filed 9/22/1975 PATENT LAWYERS

DR. ING. ERNST SOMMERFELD DR. DIETER V. BEZOLD DIPL. ING. PETER SCHÜTZ DIPL. ING. AVOLFGANG HEÜSLER D-8 MUNICH 8Θ

SIAIlIA-TIIEnESIA-STRASSE 22 PO Box 8βOdeS

Franklin Temel

1050 N.E. 91st Terrace, Miami Shores, Florida 33138, USA

Pet abortion

The invention relates to a pet toilet according to Preamble of claim 1. Such a pet abortion can be connected to a waste water drain and works automatically.

One of the aggravating factors of modern city life with high population density is the difficulty that city life has pet owners in particular with regard to prepares the daily need of their pets for elimination of body waste.

This problem is particularly acute in the case of dogs. In particular

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there are great difficulties in the case of guide dogs with regard to the arrangements for the regular excretion processes of the animal. Often the blind owner of the Ilunda must either allow the animal to relieve himself of the premonition, or he must must accept the risks associated with taking the dog outside »

Even if a dog owner can take their dog outside several times a day, the place cannot be fully satisfactory for excretion of the faeces. Eliminating on the sidewalk, in the curb or on the lawn is serious Objections as well as dropping out on empty properties where children often play.

This problem is becoming increasingly difficult for dog owners, especially as the population density of cities increases and more and more Municipalities enact regulations' which restrict the places where pets can relieve themselves.

When the pet cannot be taken outside daily for various reasons, the problem becomes even more acute. Litter bins, newspapers, or other receptacles then be earmarked for excretion of the faeces. As a result, regular cleaning is necessary, which is unpleasant odor and is time consuming, forcing the pet owner to leave their home for extended periods of time. Furthermore are Such recording objects are the source of bad smells and therefore can only be found in a few places around a house or a house Around the apartment can be satisfactorily deposited.

Among the proposals heretofore known for solving this problem are various pet toilets, some of which are . on top of a toilet bowl intended for human use are to be put on. These devices have several disadvantages. In particular, the pet toilets can which are to be placed on top of a toilet counter, can only be reached by the pet with difficulty and require that the

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Pet positions itself very precisely there so that the waste falls into the toilet bowl below. Furthermore can such a device, especially if it includes an automatic toilet flush, from the toilet only with difficulty removed. Therefore, a toilet equipped with such a device becomes for all intents and purposes rendered unusable for human users.

Other previously proposed arrangements, both automatic or those to be cleaned by means of finder control, can often not be completely cleaned, so that discard residues remain, which are unsightly and smelly.

Many of these difficulties are overcome by the pet abortion of US Patent 3,482,8O3. This pet abyss has a housing with opposing front and rear walls, opposing side walls that extend upward extend higher than the front and rear walls, and a floor which bulges below the upper ends of the side walls and is provided with an outlet opening. The pet abortion further includes a floor arranged in the housing for support of a pet and picking up its body waste products, with that floor underneath the tops of the front and rear ends Rear panels arranged and mounted for pivoting movement about a substantially horizontal axis, thereby allowing it will be that discarded products located on it fall to the bottom of the housing. A water spray device is also provided, v: elche. is located in the housing below the floor and directs water jets against it, with the drop products receiving surface of the floor is hit by these V / water jets when the floor performs its pivoting movement. The spray device is connected to a controllable arrangement for the water supply and the floor is a controllable one Drive device for generating its desired swivel movement un assigned. A control device is with the water supply device and the drive device connected and responds when a pet leaves the floor. The control device causes in this case the water supply device, the spray

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device to supply pressure water and also causes the Drive device to bring about the desired pivoting movement of the floor.

The floor is preferably formed by a plurality of parallel slats, each of which is arranged so that it pivots about a longitudinally extending axis · The floor is preferably designed such that when it is steered through the drive device pivots through an angle of 180 ° or less and at the end of a predetermined period of time into its original position swings back.

The spray device of the known pet abortion can be formed by one or more spray pipes which extend parallel to extend the floor panels and which are each arranged directly below the narrow space through which two adjacent slats are separated from each other. Each spray tube is provided with spray holes, which are arranged in such a way that that the water is sprayed substantially upwards, but at an angle to the vertical, whereby a Aufwärtssprheη des Water through the gaps between adjacent slats and thus an impact of these on objects outside the housing is prevented.

The spray device also includes a lengthwise of the upper one Spray tube extending edge of each side wall having a plurality of nozzles or outlet tubes extending through openings provided in the relevant side wall extend. Some of these tubes allow a flow of water to flush the side walls to wash away the urine. The remaining tubes direct streams of water towards the floor.

The present invention is based on the problem of the mode of operation of pet abortions of the type set forth in the aforesaid US patent. Furthermore, through the invention the structure of such a pet sanctuary can be simplified, thereby reducing its manufacturing cost and its reliability should be improved.

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According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments result from claims 2 to 8.

The invention thus provides a pet abortion with an improved Drive device for generating the desired pivoting movement of the floor, the drive device essentially is formed by a shaft which carries a plurality of worm wheels, which each cooperate with a gear wheel, wherein the gears are each connected to a pivotable floor slat. The worm gear is through a Electric motor driven.

The side walls of the pet lavatory are also according to the invention curved inwards so that the urine is collected within the Aborts improved and the possibility of water jets leaking outside is reduced.

A simplified control circuit and the use of capacitive sensors for detecting the presence are also in accordance with the invention of an animal in the vicinity of the pet abyss and for controlling the function of the control circuit.

The invention is illustrated schematically below with reference to one in the drawing illustrated embodiment explained in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a pet abortion housing according to of the present invention, with one of the capacitive sensors and the preferred design of the side walls are recognizable

Fig. 2 is a front view of a preferred one similar to Fig. 4- of the aforesaid US patent Execution of the drive device according to the invention,

3a shows a circuit diagram of a control circuit according to the invention and

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Pig. Figure 3b is a circuit diagram of one used in the invention V / ater stands control circuit.

Fig. 1 is one of Fig. 1 of the aforesaid U.S. patent Similar perspective view, from which a pet abortion housing can be seen, which compared to the known Housing is modified in accordance with several features of the present invention.

In order to confine the urine and the washing jets within the housing, the inner surfaces of the side walls 7 'and 8 ^{1 are} inwardly curved in the region of their upper end portions, and the spray nozzles 32' and 32 "are suitably arranged so that they effectively wash the walls and "spray down" the pivoting floor, the latter not being shown in FIG.

The side walls 7 ¹ 'and 8 ¹ are designed in such a way that they also comprise portions of the front and rear housing ends, the inner surfaces at the corners of the housing 1 being rounded to facilitate cleaning. For example, the interior surfaces can be in the shape of quarter cylinders at the corners.

At the front and rear ends of the housing 1, the walls are spaced from each other to form passages through which an animal can enter or leave the abortion. These passages are closed by flexible flaps 21 made of rubber or similar material, each flap 21 on an associated wall through Gluing, riveting or the like is attached.

Alternatively, the flaps 21 can be made harder and can be attached to the ends of the walls by hinges.

The flaps 21 are mounted so that they are normally closed to effectively prevent urine or wash water from leaking out of the housing. The flaps 21 are sufficient

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designed resiliently so that an animal can push them away to enter or exit the interior of the housing. On the other hand, the flaps 21 are sufficiently resistant to movement that they remain closed when that Weight of a hind leg of a male animal acts on them in the event that this animal is during excretion his leg should bump into a flap.

The housing 1 has four additional spray nozzles 33 for VZaschen the rounded corners of the inner wall surfaces and with two or four additional nozzles 3 ^ for rinsing the inner ones Surfaces of the flaps 21 provided.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, two conductive plates 102 are also provided, one of which is at one end of the housing 1 is arranged so that only one plate 102 can be seen in the drawing. The two plates 102 are each mounted on a suitable electrically insulating frame 103.

The plates 102 form the capacitive receivers or antennas of a capacitively controlled actuation circuit. The circuit, to which the boards 102 are connected may be of the type of any appropriate known circuit, such as, for example in U.S. Patents 3,199,033 and 3,593,073 are. This circuit is set up to generate an output signal when a pet is on or within a predetermined distance from the plates 102, which distance is at least large enough to accommodate the Ensure maintenance of an output signal when the pet is inside the enclosure.

The control circuit could also include a pair of microswitches be provided, which are each arranged below the center of one of the plates 102 and. connected to the circuit so that an output signal is only generated after one of the microswitches has been actuated. This could, among other things ensure that the flushing system is only turned on

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is indicated if the animal previously walked on one of the plates, being shown becomes that the animal has entered the lavatory. On the other hand, the flushing system would not be turned on when the animal or someone just got close enough to the toilet to generate a capacitively responsive output signal.

The case 1 is further provided with a pair of conductive probes 251 which are provided with a circuit for detecting the presence a liquid above a certain height in the housing

I are connected. Such circuits are known to the person skilled in the art. According to the invention, this circuit is designed in such a way that it actuates the hazerator 2 ¹ according to US Pat. No. 3,842,8-3 as long as the water level in the housing 1 is higher than the contact height of the sensor 251 but also ensures that a certain amount of water remains at the bottom of the housing 1. This residual water helps reduce odor problems. It also ensures a more complete flushing out of the waste by reducing the tendency for the droppings to stick to the bottom of the housing

II eliminates sticking and immediately washes away the solid manure. The macerator 2 "according to the aforementioned US patent closes the liquid outlet when the solids are removed.

With regard to initiating the operation of the flushing system and the sensors used for the macerator, the housing 1 according to FIG. 1 does not need to be supported by the movable arrangement as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of US Pat 3 842 8-3 - Thus the frame, which is described in This US patent consists of parts 33, as well as the frame parts 57 there and the elements 3 ^ to 49 eliminated and the housing 1 can rest directly on the floor.

Fig. 2 shows the new drive device according to the present invention, which differs from that of Fig. 4 of the US patent drift 3 842 8Ο3 in that it is constructed as follows: A V / elle 206 is rotatably supported between bearings 205, which rest on frame profiles 52 and 53. On the V / elle

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206 has a plurality of worm wheels 207 rigidly arranged, each of which meshes with an associated gear wheel 58 stands. A drive motor 24-0 is drivingly connected to the shaft 206 via a bevel gear unit 208, with a bevel gear is rotatably connected to the shaft of the motor 240 and the other bevel gear to the shaft 206.

Furthermore, one is on the shaft 25 of the middle floor slat cam disk 161 keyed, which two diametrically opposite Has protrusions or cam surfaces 165. One one microswitch 167 containing movable contact is on the Plate 55 fixed in a stationary manner (the attachment not being shown). The microswitch 167 is designed such that it normally closes the circle between its external contacts, and is positioned so that its normally closed contact is opened every time the roller arranged at the end of its movable contact actuator with a the protrusions 165 are engaged.

As explained more fully in connection with FIG. 3a, the movable contact of the microswitch 167 is on the circuit connected to the power supply of the motor 240, that after the start of the motor 240 this by the next intervention a cam 165 with the microswitch actuator is stopped again. Thus, during each period of operation, the motor 240 pivots the floor panels through an angle of 180 °. If it is desired to rotate the slats 360 during each period of actuation, only one of the cams is required 165 to remove from the cam disk 161.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 can possibly with the locking system which is shown in Fig. -4 of U.S. Patent 3 842 803 is shown. In many cases this can be derived from the effective gear ratio between the wheels and 58 result in additional weight a sufficient mechanical Form resistance to the floor slats in a level arrangement hold when an animal is on them. Furthermore, in the

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In view of this gear ratio, a drive motor with a low torque can be used.

The connection between the motor 240 and the bevel gear 208 can be made via a slip clutch, in order to further improve the connection to protect an animal from injury if its foot should be held between the slats while they are being pushed spinning, and when the control system should not be responsive to the presence of the animal in the lavatory.

3a shows an embodiment of a simplified control circuit according to the present invention. This circuit comprises a capacitive sensor 260, the input of which is through the in Plate 102 shown in Fig. 1 is formed. The sensor 260 can be of the type described above and is set in such a way that that it generates an output signal when an animal the size of a dog or a cat is within a predetermined range Distance from the abortion.

Such an output signal, which can be amplified if necessary by a transistor output stage, is based on the Coil of a relay 261 abandoned in order to actuate this every time when an animal is within such a predetermined distance from the abortion.

When the relay 261 is actuated, a voltage is applied to the coil of a time-delay switch-off relay via its closed contact 23 ^ abandoned to 'operate this. It will its moving contact with the power supply line of the motor 240 and connected to three coils, not shown, which each correspond to the coils S1O1, SIO3 and S96 according to FIGS. 5 and 6 correspond to patent specification 3 842 8O3 and are connected in such a way that that they actuate the valve 101 for supplying the pipes 31 with water or the pump 103 for pumping, from water to the various Control spray tubes or the valve 96 for controlling the supply of water to the tubes 31 and 32, as essentially shown in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent 3,842,8O3.

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However, as long as relay 261 remains energized, there is none Connection between electrical devices connected to the normally open contact of relay 234- and the system voltage source.

The circuit also has a movable contact C 167's normally closed microswitch 167 on. Before the system starts to operate, contact Cl67 is kept open as a result of its engagement with a protrusion 165 on disk 161.

When a pet leaves the area adjacent to the abortion, the relay 261 is de-energized, so that an actuation voltage is applied the movable contact of the relay 234 and the movable contact C167 is impressed. Although the de-excitation of relay 261 causes that the coil of the relay 234- is disconnected from the voltage source this coil will remain energized for a set period of time as relay 234- is a time delay cut-out relay is. This set period of time is sufficiently long, for example 2 seconds, to allow the motor 24-0 to operate begins and the gears 58 to a sufficient Rotates amount so that the projection 165 is disengaged from the microswitch 167 and thus the contact C167 closes. Then the supply of actuation energy to the motor 24-0 and to the various control coils via the contact C 167 continued.

These bodies continue to work until the next one Projection 165 comes into engagement with the Hikro switch 167, after which the contact C 167 opens, the motor 240 stops and the water supply to the spray lances stops. The entire arrangement is then ready for a new period of operation.

If the sensor 260 detects the presence of one during a purge operation Should detect animals in the area of the pet abortion, the relay 261 is energized such that the voltage source from the motor 24-C and disconnecting the water supply control coils.

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Because of this, the floor slats are not rotated and it no jets of water are generated as long as there is a risk that the animal will re-enter the abortion. When · the animal is again farther from the abortion, the remainder of the actuation period is simply performed.

The circuit shown in Fig. Yo is a contact circuit which is connected to the sensors 251 and which is designed in such a way that actuation energy is supplied to the macerator motor 14-8 as long as the water level in the pet toilet is above the water level to be detected by the sensor 251. Circuits which respond in this manner to a given water level are known in the art and any suitable circuit of this type can be used.

As alternatives to the arrangement described above for introduction a wash-off or flushing period, it would be possible to detect the opening of one of the flaps 21 or a light barrier on each Entrance to house 1 to be provided.

In certain circumstances you may want to use the automatic De-energize control and perform manual control. To make this possible, the connection between the I-iotor 24-0 and the connection point between contact C167 and the Contact of relay 234- interrupted and simply a switch with three switch positions inserted in the circuit according to FIG. 3a. This switch could have a common contact, three emergency contacts and a movable member which is manually operated can be used to manually connect the common contact to any of the auxiliary contacts. The common contact of the three-position switch can be connected to the positive voltage input terminal of motor 240, one to the connection point between the contact C167 and the switching element of the relay 234- connected first auxiliary contact, an open second auxiliary contact and connected to the third auxiliary contact connected to the Kotor supply source (+ 24- V).

In the first position of the switch the movable one connects

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Link the common contact with the first auxiliary contact and the system is arranged in such a way that it works automatically in the manner described above. In the second In the position of the switch, the movable member connects the common contact with the second auxiliary contact and the system is completely de-excited. In the third position of the switch, the movable member connects the common contact with the third auxiliary contact and the entire system is set in puncture, so that the motor 240 continues and the water continues to the various tubes until the switch is manually switched back to its first or second position.

It should be noted that the above description According to the invention, various modifications, changes and adaptations can be made within the scope of the invention can, which also applies to the following claims.

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Claims (1)

Claims [1 / Pet abortion with a housing that has a Has outlet opening provided bottom, one arranged in the housing Device for forming a floor for supporting a pet and receiving the drop products his body, the floor being pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis to allow the falling of products on the floor on the surface of the housing bottom, arranged in the housing spray devices for leveling water jets against the floor, as a result of which the discarded products are picked up Surface of the floor is hit by such water jets when the floor experiences a pivoting movement, controllable Devices for supplying water, which are connected to the spray devices for supplying water to them, a drive device connected to the floor, by means of which the floor can be given the pivoting movement, . as well as a control device connected to the water supply devices, which causes the water supply devices supply water under pressure to the spray devices, thereby characterized in that the controllable drive device comprises an electric motor (240), the shaft of which with the floor is connected and the input terminals for the electrical supply are connected in such a way that the supply of supply energy to these is controlled by the control device. 2. Pet Abort according to claim 1, characterized in that the -forming the floor means comprise a plurality of laterally consecutive slats and a plurality of pivotable supports (25) which are each associated with a bar to this about a substantially horizontal axis to pivot, wherein the pivot axes of all slats are substantially parallel to each other, and that the drive device - 15 - 709813/0783 Has gears (5?), Each of which is one with the individual pivotable supports (25) is connected, and the individual gear wheels (58) each have a worm wheel (207) for driving purposes is assigned, wherein the worm wheels (207) can be driven by the electric motor (24-0). 3. Pet abortion according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the drive device has a shaft 206 on which all worm gears (207.) are coaxial for rotation as a unit are arranged, as well as coupling devices (208) for Has connection of the shaft (206) with the motor (240). 4. Pet abortion according to one of claims 1 to 3 »characterized in that that the control device comprises: a capacity-dependent responsive circuit (260 ...) for generating a Output signal corresponding to and during the presence of a pet in the area adjacent to the pet abortion, a with the capacity-dependent responsive circuit (260 ...) connected control circuit (234 ...), which with the water supply devices and the drive device (240 ...) is connected for initiating the actuation of the water supply devices and the entrance device (240 ...) after creation and then terminating such an output signal. 5. Pet toilet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the control device has a position-sensitive switch (167), which is arranged in such a way in terms of work is that it is responsive to the position of the floor for the termination of the actuation of the drive device (240 ...) after such an operation was initiated and the floor then a selected position for the support of a Pet had reached. 6. Pet toilet according to one of claims 1 to 5 »characterized in that that the control device has at least one cam / has at least one pivotably mounted jointly with the floor, and the switch (167) is arranged so that it is through the - 16 - 709813/0783 Cam (165) can be actuated. '7. Pet toilet according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized £, ■ - · <by means for selectively closing the outlet opening as well as sensors (251) for detecting the water level, which are arranged in the housing (1) to open the outlet opening, only when the water is on the housing base (11) is above a predetermined height. 8. Pet Aboft according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that the housing (1) has opposite side winds (7 ', 8') which extend above the floor and are designed such that they are curved inwardly towards one another in the area above the floor. 709813/0763